Brazil's Lula, Venezuela's Maduro embrace 'new era' in ties

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro met with leftist Brazilian President Lula ahead of a regional summit in Brasilia. Lula's conservative predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, had previously banned Maduro from entering Brazil.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro on Monday and called out US sanctions against Venezuela as "extremely exaggerated."

Maduro, who is seen as a controversial leader internationally, met Lula on his visit to Brazil. Maduro was greeted by Lula with a hug and back-slap in the presidential palace of Brasilia. 

The Venezuelan leader was invited by Lula to attend a South American leaders' summit that will be held on Tuesday to discuss the revival of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

Lula criticized the US for denying legitimacy to Maduro's socialist government, which is viewed by Washington as authoritarian for alleged human rights violations.

Lula chided the US over denial of legitimacy to Maduro's government and the "900 sanctions" Venezuela faces.

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                                        Luis Vasquez La Roche

Happy to finally see this work realized. @maripari9 and I have been talking about it since 2019.

 Through pandemics / zoom meetings / really short visits to @maripari9 studio in VA. Glad to see it in New York (@cueart )and Kassel at the same time. (@documentafifteen )  

Repost @maripari9 “En Función del Interes Nacional” (In Function of National Interest) made in collaboration with @vasquezlaroche is a series of six screen printed light boxes. 

These two are currently up on view at @cueart until September 2nd! The screen-printed surfaces depict iconic logos from Venezuelan companies that were expropriated during the regime of the former president of Venezuela Hugo Chavez and current President Nicolas Maduro. 

Through the works, we consider the way that products and their branding are an integral part of national identity as it has been built over the past few decades. Through the use of cardboard, we make reference to the distribution of products, particularly to the way many of these Venezuelan goods are no longer made in Venezuela and many Venezuelans travel to other countries to find traditionally Venezuelan products. On top of the screen printed logos are laser cutouts of images of Simon Bolivar, known as the liberator. 

The images are taken from Venezuelan currency called the Bolívar which has reached record-breaking high levels of inflation. Seen as a series, racialized differences in the representations of Simon Bolivar become apparent. His image and association with liberty are used as a political tool for garnering support. 

Multimedia components including LED taxi/rideshare lights reading “libre” (free), can be seen through the cutouts in the cardboard. Through their various layers, the works draw connections between the use of the notion of liberty as a political tool from the colonial times of Simon Bolivar all the way to contemporary times of globalized neoliberal markets and economies. They ask audiences to consider the meaning of and access to liberty and authoritarianism across political spectrums.

Trust in Venezuela: A Historical Analysis of Eroded Trust and Its Impact on Society

Trust in Venezuela: A Fragile History of Erosion and Crisis Trust is a fundamental aspect of any society, serving as the foundation for social, economic, and political interactions. In Venezuela, however, trust has been an elusive and fragile concept throughout its history. The country has experienced a tumultuous journey, characterized by political instability, economic crises, and social…

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I hear US Media and propagandized Americans always pointing to Venezuela as an example of the failure of Socialism.

So let's take a look at what happened to Venezuelan Oil Production:

Timeline of US Sanctions:

Venezuelan Oil Production timeline:

One can easily see from these visual representations how US Sanctions, added in layers over the period of nearly a decade, slowly but surely strangles Venezuela's oil production.

Not some "mismanagement" of Venezuela's oil reserves by Socialists, but instead a concerted effort by the United States to strangle Venezuela's oil markets and decimate their economy.

When someone raises their voice at Viviana and she has to choose between being polite or showing them that she was born and raised in Venezuela.

it's that time of the year again!!!!

Ron DeSantis' Martha's Vineyard Migrant Stunt Apparently Ilegal

I keep seeing this discourse on TikTok, so I wanted to put something out here: Your ethnic and/or cultural identity is not invalid simply because you're 3+ generations from your immigrant heritage.

Specifically, I'm talking in the context of the Chicano/a/e debate of who qualifies, but this applies to others with immigrant heritage and whose communities rule them out after X amount of generations, even if they remain involved in said culture. Currently, in some online spaces, I keep seeing some people say that to be Chicano you must be US-born to 2 Mexican-born parents, and that alone is what counts; I've even seen people say that you must also be born and raised in Southern California to count. This is sooo ridiculous to me. The original Chicanos were young, brown, poor and politically active in California, Texas, and Chicago, choosing to embrace what was then something of a slur, and taking it on as an identity in the fight against cultural assimilation, embracing their indigenous heritage over their Spanish ancestry. In fact, most of the early Chicanos were predominantly third gen, meaning their great-grandparents had been the immigrants from Mexico.

There are longstanding Mexican communities in this country, primarily in the states bordering Mexico, with people whose families have been in the US since as long as Mexico and the States have existed. And these people have always been involved in political action, revolution, and the making of our very Chicano history. I don't understand why these young kids are getting on TikTok and acting like you gotta be the first generation of your family born here to be Chicano, when that's got nothing to do with it. Chicanismo is political, it is a culture, it has always been here, and it doesn't stop at one generation. How would you maintain a culture or a movement of any kind that way, if you couldn't pass it down to your kids and grandchildren? My father is a Chicano, my sister is Chicane, I am Xicana, so is my cousin. As Rubén Salazar said, "a Chicano is a Mexican American with a non-Anglo image of himself". As long as you hold to that, remain involved in your community, fight for your people and all other marginalized people as any politically active person should, what Mexican American isn't Chicano?

Saw a friend post a political take i disagree with but isnt fundamentally wrong and im being so brave about it

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in an interview that the Biden administration remained committed to building “lawful pathways” for people to migrate to the United States “without having to place their lives in the hands of smugglers and proceed through treacherous terrain like the Darién.”

But he laid out no specific plan for Venezuelans, who would likely have to wait years if they apply for visas from abroad.

He made it clear that the United States is not offering any special type of sanctuary for Venezuelans.

Still, that has not stopped rumors from flying that the Biden administration has opened its doors to Venezuelan migrants, and will offer help once they arrive.

[...]

“In the past, you needed a visa to enter the United States,” said Ms. Ramos. “Now, thank God, they’re giving us refuge.”

Venezuela, Cuba, and Bolivia show solidarity with Brazil over floods in the state of Rio Grande do Sul

ALBA-TCP released a letter stating that it's necessary to "keep on fighting" against the consequences of climate change

On Tuesday (7), the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America –Peoples' Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP, in Spanish) released a letter expressing solidarity with the “people and government of Brazil” for the heavy rains that flooded the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The document was signed by ALBA, which includes Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba and Nicaragua.

In the statement, the organization regrets the human and material losses and expresses its condolences to the families of the victims. Alba also states that it is following the efforts of the Brazilian state and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers’ Party) to provide a rapid response to the events and support for the families affected. The document also says the organization gives its full support to Brazil at this time.

The letter also recalls that the floods recorded in recent days in the Brazilian state have surpassed those of 1941. That year, the Guaíba Lake reached 4.76 meters and took 32 days to drop to below flood level. According to the official bodies, the highest level recorded in the 2024 flood was 5.33 meters, last Sunday (5).

ALBA concludes the text by stating that this was the 4th environmental disaster of this kind in the country, and that it is necessary to “continue fighting against the devastating consequences of climate change and join forces to mitigate the risks of these situations.”

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you. dont like communism?

#littlevenezuelanthings

Photo by Bel Pedrosa – CC BY-SA 2.0 This month marks the 25th anniversary of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution, despite ongoing efforts by the US to undermine the socialist project. President Nicolás Maduro's government has made the US acknowledge its authority, even though the US still claims that the 2015 National Assembly is the only democratic institution in Venezuela. The US is now reviewing candidates for the upcoming Venezuelan presidential election. While this is still interfering, the US hasn’t been able to overthrow the government. Recently, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado appeared before a US congressional committee, showing the US is seeking a reliable ally. Republicans hope she will collaborate with them, while Democrats may have their own plans. Opposition to the socialist government is made up of various small groups, each tied to a leader like Machado's Vente Venezuela party. The US spends millions annually on what it calls “democracy promotion” in Venezuela. USAID has pledged $50 million to influence the presidential elections later this year. Despite Washington's efforts, there's no unified opposition in Venezuela yet. Still, the US continues to try to pick who should lead Venezuela.   Farewell to Venezuelan “interim president” Juan Guaidó The last person considered for the top job in the empire was Juan Guaidó, who is now in trouble. Even though he was well-liked as Venezuela's "temporary president" abroad, people in his own country didn't support him, and he was removed by his own opposition group in 2022. The US and its friends gave Guaidó and his friends control of some Venezuelan assets, like a company in Colombia and an oil franchise in the US, even though they weren't supposed to. They used these businesses to make themselves rich but ended up ruining them. The Venezuelan attorney general says they stole about $19 billion. Guaidó didn't seem like a strong leader, and it turns out he wasn't. But the new person in the running looks good in pictures and is good at speaking. Plus, they can speak English well. Machado auditions before the “bipartisan roundtable” The House Foreign Affairs Committee had a discussion on February 7th about "The Fight for Freedom in Venezuela." Maria Salazar, the committee chair, was very supportive of María Corina Machado, the main opposition presidential candidate. Salazar emphasized that Machado is the only opposition candidate they support, saying there's "no plan B!" During the discussion, Machado described Venezuela as the "largest torture center in Latin America" under the Maduro government, accusing them of intentionally worsening people's lives. When asked about solving Venezuela's issues, Machado said she would focus on opening up markets. However, it wasn't mentioned that the economic sanctions she supported had closed off markets and hurt Venezuela's citizens, especially the less fortunate. Machado comes from a wealthy family. Machado also mentioned she wouldn't tolerate a system of impunity like the one under Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello's leadership. While Nicaragua wasn't initially discussed, Machado pledged to support a transition there too. This prompted concerns from the Perú Libre party, reflecting leftist views in Latin America, who see Machado as a threat to continental peace. Machado’s political baggage Machado has a controversial past in politics. Back in 2002, she supported a short-lived coup against Hugo Chávez by signing the Carmona Decree. Although she was granted amnesty for her involvement, she has been linked to other coup attempts. She was also involved in promoting violent protests in 2014 and 2017, aiming to overthrow the government, and has even called for a US military intervention. In 2014, Machado was prohibited from running for public office in Venezuela because she served as a diplomat for Panama to testify against Venezuela at the Organization of American States. Initially, she refused to challenge this decision in the Supreme Court, which she deemed illegitimate.

However, when the US sought to use her disqualification as a reason to impose sanctions, she complied and took her case to court. Despite her efforts, she remains disqualified from holding public office. Other congressional initiatives In December, Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) introduced House Resolution 911 naming Machado as the "official presidential opposition candidate." This move interferes with another country's affairs and ignores the opposition in Venezuela, which doesn't see Machado as the only valid candidate. On January 30, after Machado's appeal to restore her eligibility failed, Republican Senators Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, and Bill Cassidy urged Biden to reimpose sanctions on Venezuela to uphold US credibility. That day, the Biden State Department revoked sanctions relief on Venezuelan gold sales and threatened to do the same for gas and oil. Earlier, the Congressional Research Service stated that US sanctions on Venezuela didn't achieve regime change but caused severe human suffering, the same crisis Machado blames on the Venezuelan government. How popular is Machado off of Capitol Hill? Top analysts recognize Machado as the most well-known opposition politician in Venezuela and the most popular one. However, she doesn't have unanimous support within the country. Venezuelan sociologist Maria Paez Victor, now living in Canada, says Machado is disliked by many in the opposition. "She is widely disliked because she strongly supports more sanctions, which have led to a lot of suffering." Machado's opposition primary had issues. She won with an unusually high 92%, but the process excluded some parties and had irregularities, like being run by her own organization instead of the national authority. The US press often calls it "an" opposition primary, not "the" opposition primary, hinting at its questionable nature. The Venezuelan Supreme Court later suspended the results due to these irregularities. Machado’s prospects Maduro hasn't officially announced his candidacy, but it's widely expected that he'll be the choice for his party. Machado insists that elections must include her, a sentiment supported by the European Union, which won't recognize the election without her participation. According to the Orinoco Tribune, the White House isn't overly concerned about the opposition candidate in Venezuela. Biden official Juan González emphasizes the importance of the electoral process over the specific candidate. There are indications that the White House might be anticipating a Maduro victory and planning to reject the election results. In the past, the U.S. declared the Venezuelan presidential election fraudulent well in advance and even threatened sanctions against an opposition candidate. The controversy surrounding Machado's eligibility for elections seems manufactured, with little relevance to her as a far-right opposition figure. Washington likely knew she wouldn't be allowed to run due to past issues. This situation is likely a strategy to cast doubt on the upcoming election and discredit it if Maduro emerges as the winner.  

UK to send naval ship to Guyana amid border dispute with Venezuela

The UK Navy will send a patrol ship to Guyana as a sign of British support for the Commonwealth country.

The South American country is in a dispute with Venezuela over a mineral-rich border area. HMS Trent will take part in joint exercises with Guyana after Christmas. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said:

HMS Trent will visit regional ally and Commonwealth partner Guyana later this month as part of a series of engagements in the region during her Atlantic patrol task deployment.

The dispute erupted after the discovery of oil in Guyana and escalated when Venezuela voted in a referendum on 3 December to claim two-thirds of its smaller neighbour’s territory.

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It was only a matter of time…. Among our “asylum seekers” exist members of a Venezuelan prison gang. A characteristic of the gang is “extreme brutality.” Imagine the depravity these sadists will inflict when placed in Johnsonvilles. Happy Halloween, “y’all.” Oh, also, remember that Chicago opted to dismantle and abolish their gang database. So don’t worry, they’ll surely be kept track of…oh…

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